- Who
- Matthew Lee
- What
- 2,789 total number
- Where
- United Kingdom (London)
- When
The largest collection of Rolling Stones memorabilia is 2,789 items and was achieved by Matthew Lee (UK) verified in London, UK, on 14 November 2019.
Matthew first fell in love with Rolling Stones when he was 12 years old and his father gave him a cassette called "Solid Rock". Hearing the cowbell at the start of Honky Tonk Women led him to wear our the tape through repeat listens. He began a small Rolling Stones collection but when he read a book called "Not Fade Away" featuring the collection of Chris Eborn he was inspired to collect more and more.
The first major piece of memorabilia he got was a fully signed programme from the band's January 1965 Irish Tour. He traded the programme to a friend but later purchased the friends entire collection to reclaim the programme as his own. Matthew is a big fan of firsts and he owns the only known copy of the bands first recording and performance contract, as well as an original acetate of the band's first studio recording, the earliest known concert poster from March 1963 and many "number 1's" of their numbered records. He has a particular fondness for rare posters with the Cardiff Castle poster from their cancelled 1973 show a particular highlight of his collection.
Of all of the items he owns the one thing that means the most to him is his very first "All Access" pass for the Bigger Bang Tour from 2005-2007. He attended 34 shows on that tour, including The Beacon Theatre and Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Private Show in Barcelona, Slane Castle in Ireland and the final three shows in London.
Of the bands extensive back catalogue "Exile on Main Street", "Sticky Fingers" and "Some Girls" are all favourites. One that stands out the most to him however is the live album "Stripped" as it was recorded during their Voodoo Lounge tour when he first fell in love with their music and went to his first concert. One of his favourite tracks is "Dead Flowers". The band only released 100 copies of the song as a single, each copy with unique artwork. Matthew has 18.
Looking ahead there are many items that Matthew would like to include in his collection, but he's not willing to divulge specifics. He is always keen to source more handwritten lyrics, stage-worn clothing and used instruments for his ever growing collection.
